Tuscany region is set to acquire the invaluable Alinari collection

It will most likely be the Region of Tuscany that will acquire the precious Alinari collection, the heritage of the historic photographic agency that is in a crisis also recounted on these pages a few days ago. Alinari’s historical archive consists of five million objects, including daguerreotypes, old and modern photographs, digital images, books, cameras: in size it is one of the most important photographic collections in the world. Fortunately, the conditions are in place for this heritage not to be dispersed and, indeed, to be displayed in a public venue in the future: in fact, the Region of Tuscany has obtained the green light from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage to acquire the collection at the price estimated by the Tuscan Archival Superintendence (which, in any case, is much lower than the 138 million euros that were estimated by a 2008 appraisal).

The ministry’s appraisal, said regional councillor for culture Monica Barni, “will be the subject of an upcoming meeting with the Alinari company to communicate it to them and then figure out how to proceed. The region is willing to go ahead, the operation will be complex also because there are all the issues of conservation, management and enhancement. We have a clear picture, it will be a complex path, but we are ready.”

The destination is also already being discussed: part of the images could be preserved and displayed at Villa Fabbricotti, a historic 19th-century residence in the Montughi area now housing public offices. However, the problem of layoffs remains, still unresolved: the unions continue to take an interest in the issue, asking the institutions to also work to save the employees at risk.

Image: a historical photo of the Alinari Agency headquarters.

Tuscany region is set to acquire the invaluable Alinari collection

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